N Myrtle Beach, SC vs Columbia, SC

When comparing tap water quality between N Myrtle Beach, SC and Columbia, SC, N Myrtle Beach currently holds a narrow 3-point edge in average WaterQ score, with a score of 91 out of 100 versus 88 for Columbia. N Myrtle Beach, SC carries an A grade while Columbia, SC carries a B. A WaterQ score reflects an aggregate of EPA-reported violations, monitoring data, and compliance history across all public water systems serving each city, so a higher score generally indicates fewer recent violations and a stronger compliance record, though it does not guarantee that every tap in the city tests identically.

Columbia, SC is the larger of the two, with 321,273 more residents than N Myrtle Beach. Columbia is served by 5 public water systems, compared with 1 in N Myrtle Beach — a difference of 4 systems. A larger number of systems often reflects a more fragmented distribution network spanning multiple utilities, suburbs, or rural service areas, while a single large utility serving a big population can benefit from economies of scale in treatment and monitoring, but may also face more complex, aging infrastructure to maintain.

For residents of either N Myrtle Beach or Columbia, the most useful next step is to look up the specific water system that serves your address, since city-wide averages combine results from every system in the area. Visit the N Myrtle Beach or Columbia city pages below for a breakdown of local systems, recent violations, and contaminant-specific data, or browse WaterQ's contaminants directory to learn what each measured substance means for health.